John M. WHITE

Biography, more than anything else, commands the most
interested attention for the reason that it is a record of those who, in
times gone by, traveled the thorny pathway of life as companions,
acquaintances, friends or relatives. To preserve from forgetfulness the
simple story of their experiences and record their acts, however
uneventful, is a task attended with much pleasure to the writer and
fraught with great good to humanity. Especially is this the case when
the subject has passed the allotted three score and ten and, like some
grand old forest trees, its companiions all gone -- stands alone,
crowned with the weight and honors of years, calmly awaiting the change
that soon will cause its once proud form to lie as low as its fellows.

One of the venerable citizens and successful farmers of Montgomery
County is John M. White of Ripley Twp, who was born in Covington,
Fountain County, Indiana, Dec 25, 1838, a son of William B. and
Elizabeth White, both natives of Tennessee. William White, the paternal
grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812. He came to Sullivan
County, Indiana, in 1817, subsequently leaving there and moving to
Fountain locating on Coal Creek finally moving to Vermillion Co. this
state where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there
Jan 10, 1847. The following children were born to William B. White and
his wife: Albert F, deceased; James A; Mandy Lorina, deceased; Horace
H, deceased; Elmira S; John M of this review; Thomas Franklin,
deceased; William Bloomer.

John M. White received his education in the
public schools and he grew to manhood on the home farm, where he did
his share of the work. Early in life he took up farming, which he has
continued to the present time, being still active. He is now the owner
of 208 acres of productive and well improved land on which he has
carried on general farming and stock raising with much success. Mr.
White was married Sept 1, 1859 to Rena B. WERT, daughter of David and
Rebecca Balser Wert and to this union 5 children were born: Edgar and
Aaron, deceased; Wiliam E. teaching in Alamo; Alonzo lives Waynetown;
Jesse teaching in the university at Pittsburgh, Pa. The wife and mother
passed to her eternal rest Nov 10, 1892 and on Feb 28, 1894, Mr. White
married Emma Hatt, daughter of Joseph V. and Mary Keyes Hatt, the
former a native of Ohio and later of Delaware; they are both deceased.
This last union of the subject and wife has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. White is a Republican, but he has never held or sought
public office. He is a member of the Christian Church.